COMCAST EXTENDS ITS NATIONAL BROADBAND ADOPTION PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES

Eligible Miami Dade County Families Can Receive Free Internet Service For Six Months During Special Sign-Up Period Through March 25

Internet Essentials is a broadband adoption program created by Comcast to connect low-income Americans to the power of broadband Internet at home. In just two a half years, the initiative has connected more than 1.2 million low-income Americans to the power of broadband Internet at home. In the State of Florida, through Internet Essentials Comcast has connected more than 160,000 low-income Floridians of which nearly 120,000 live in the South Florida area.

As part of the Internet Essentials program, Comcast is also providing grants to non-profit community organizations in Miami Dade County in order to create “Internet Essentials Learning Zones. These “Internet Essentials Learning Zones” will function as a continuum of connectivity — that begins in the classroom with wired schools, follow the students to wired libraries, wired computer centers, and wired after-school programs, and end in wired homes when the day is done.

“I believe that the moral imperative before us at this point in time is a connected way of living,” said Miami Dade County School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. “Those that are not connected to the internet at home are at a significant educational and economic disadvantage compared to those who are.”

Announced in May 2011, Internet Essentials is designed to meet the needs of a specific population – low-income families with school-age children who are not currently connected to broadband Internet at home. However, no single program will completely close the digital divide.

Internet Essentials eligible families in these South Florida communities who are not currently customers can receive six months of complimentary Internet service if they apply for the program by March 25, 2014. The families simply need to call 1-855-846-8376 or visit www.InternetEssentials.com. For Spanish, they may call 1-855-765-6995 or visit www.InternetBasico.com.